Review the Frequently Asked Questions for Financial Aid.
This section will answer many questions you may have about applying for financial aid and the FAFSA.
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What is financial aid?
A number of programs designed to help students with limited resources meet their educational expenses that are administered by the Financial Aid Office. Programs include enrollment fee waivers, grants, federal work study, scholarships and loans.
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How do I apply?
To apply, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online.
Be sure to include Río Hondo College’s school code 001269 so that your FAFSA information is sent to us electronically by the Department of Education.
Also, in order for us to receive your information, be sure that your social security number, name and birthdate are accurate when completing the FAFSA and they match exactly with the information you provided on your admissions application to Río Hondo College.
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When should I apply?
The ideal time to apply is between October 1 and March 2 to ensure your application is processed in time for fall and that all available aid is offered to you.
The priority deadline to apply is March 2. If you miss this date, you can still apply. Keep in mind, the longer you take to apply, the longer you will have to wait to be processed.
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Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?
Yes. Your financial situation must be reviewed each year.
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How long does it take?
Electronically after completion, the FAFSA is processed between 48-72 hours as long as all sections are complete with student (and parent, if necessary) signatures, you will receive a confirmation email from the U.S. Department of Education.
After the FAFSA has been processed by the U.S. Department of Education, Río Hondo College will receive the electronic results of the FAFSA within approximately 7-10 business days as long as the student has already completed their application for admission to the college.
At that time, the student will receive an email from our office directing them to their portal to turn in any required documents. Your financial aid advisor will begin reviewing your documents. This process should take 8-10 weeks from the date the last requested document is received.
Please make sure that Río Hondo’s Federal School Code (001269) is on the FAFSA application.
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What is the FSA ID and how do I get one?
An FSA ID is a username and password that you must use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. Your FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
If you are a parent of a dependent student, you will need your own FSA ID if you want to sign your child’s FAFSA electronically. If you have more than one child attending college, you can use the same FSA ID to sign all applications.
Please note: Each FSA ID user must have a unique email address.